A few weeks ago, I watched Casablanca for the first time. It was my opinion, and I think you will agree, that he was dead inside, because Elsa left him and he didn't know why. That is something with which we can all identify. He tried to make himself believe that he didn't care for anyone or anything. It was tough for him to carry that out. By opening himself up again, he was able to realize that there were things bigger than himself.
Oh, my. What other essential American experiences have you been denying yourself?
Maybe the French would understand us better if they were to realize that Americans are still Rick, while the French have abandoned the last good qualities of Renault. They have all gone Vichy, now.
The point of heroism is that you can never lose it. Even when Rick was sunk in bitterness and self-pity he could not help instinctively sticking up for the helpless.
Be sure to follow with "The Maltese Falcon", "To Have and to Have not", "Key Largo", "Notorious", "The Philadelphia Story", and "North by Northwest".